Door sealing structure



April 15, 1952 w. A. CLOSE DOOR SEALING STRUCTURE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Feb. 7, 1946 P 1952 w. A. CLOSE 2,592,861

DOOR SEALING STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 7, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Fig-4.

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Patented Apr. 15, 1952 DOOR SEALING STRUCTURE Winston A. Close, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Sylvester H. Gargill, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application February 7, 1946, Serial No. 546,118

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a door sealingstructure. There is usually an opening between the edge of a door and the door frame, particularly at the top and bottom thereof. When the door opens to the outside, such as a door in a residence, considerable heat is lost through said opening. It is desirable therefore to have means for sealing the opening between the door and the frame.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and very efiicient device for sealing the opening between the door and frame or sill.

It is further an object of the invention to provide a door sealing structure comprising a. member adapted to be secured to an edge of said door, such as the bottom thereof, and to extend longitudinally of said edge, said member having spaced flexible portions projecting therefrom toward the door frame and adapted to engage said door frame, whereby the opening between the door and frame is sealed and an air space is provided between said member and said frame.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a door sealing structure comprising a member adapted to be secured to an edge of said door and extend longitudinally thereof, said member having spaced flexible portions projecting therefrom, and said frame having a shoulder adapted to be engaged by one of said portions.

It is more specifically an object of, the invention to provide a door sealing structure comprising a member adapted to be secured to an edge of said door and having spaced flexible portions projecting outwardly, and a door frame having surfaces. engaged respectively by said portions, one or more of which surfaces may incline outwardly toward the outer side of said door frame.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a structure as set forth in the preceding paragraph in which said member is engaged between said portions by a plate, and means passing through said plate and into said door to secure said member to said door.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a door having the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a partial view in front elevation of a door and frame having the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the bottom portion of a door having the device of the invention thereon;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4 of Fig. 6 through the bottom portion of a door and sill showing the door in closed position;

Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view of the device used;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on line 6-6 of Fig. 4 through the free edge of the door showing the invention; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 6 showing the device applied to the free edge and bottom of the door.

Referring to the drawings, a door II] is shown supported by the usual hinges I I and surrounded by a frame l2 which includes the sill I2a. at the bottom of the door. The door is shown as having the usual knob 43. In accordance with the present invention and as clearly shown in Fig. 5, a formed member I4 is provided which is adapted to be secured to an edge of a door, such as the bottom thereof. Member [4 is preferably made of a flexible or resilient material such as rubber Or a rubber composition. As shown, member I4 has a width slightly less than the thickness of the door and has a fiat or plain surface engaging the edge of the door. Member I4 has a central portion shown as of substantially uniform thickness, and this portion is engaged at its outer side by a plate l5 which extends throughout the length of member 14. Spaced screws l6 extend through plate l5 and into the door l0, thus securing member [4 to said door. Member M has spaced portions Ma and I ib projecting therefrom at or adjacent each side thereof, and these portions will have some flexibility or resiliency. Portion I la at the inner side of the door is preferably of less length than portion Mb at the outer side of the door. Portions Ma and [4b thus form ribs or flanges extending longitudinally of the door, and as shown, their lower edges are rounded. The bottom portion or sill l2a of said door is provided with a surface 12b which slopes downwardly and outwardly and extends to a horizontal surface I20. Another surface |2d extends from the outer edge of surface 120 downwardly and outwardly. Member l2a is illustrated as secured to the floor l8 by spaced screws l9. The sill |2a has a horizontal top surface We as usual and said sill is beveled at its inner edge in the customary manner.

When the door It] with member M thereon moves to closed position. portion Ida engages the surface or shoulder l2b, as shown in Fig. 4. Portion [4a is flexed or bent outwardly as it engages said surface [21) and may slide along the same for a short distance before reaching the closed position shown in Fig. 4. The outer surface (2d is constructed and arranged to be engaged by the portion Nb and said portion will be flexed outwardly somewhat by engagement with said surface. When the door is in such closed position a tight seal isprovided between the door and frame or sill" i2a by engagement of portions Ida and [4b with the surfaces 12b and l2d. It will also be seen that an air space is provided between member I4 and the frame or sill l2a which will act as an insulating medium. A very tight and efficient seal is thus produced and one whichuwill permit no entrance of air from-theoutside and one which will permit little or no heat toescape past the door.

The member (4 can be attached to the-top or with so as. to exert pressure against said surfaces the side edge of the door, and in Fig. 7 member 14 is shown attached to the free side edge vofthe door. and engaging the side frame [2 Side frame I2 is provided with an innerinclined surface. Hg, and an outer inclined surface. I 2h, which surfaces incline outwardly toward the outer side of the door frame. Inner surface Hg is engaged ;by.the forward'portion Ma. and the-outersurface 12h is engaged by the outer portion Mb. A

tight seal is :thus provided between the door and ethe-side-frame and a dead air space is also produced between member id and the door frame.

I.AS.L3.-KJOV8 stated this dead air spaceacts as an -;insulating medium.

From the above description it will be seenthat I'rhave provided a simple and very efiicient :structure-for sealing the opening about a door. L{Theopening is veryefiectively sealed so that I no ;air can pass between the door and the surnrounding frame. The seal is a double one and as above-stated; aninsulating body of air is formedby the device. The device can be produced at comparatively small expense and re- ,.quires little change from the standard structure. Thedevice has been amply demonstrated in :actual practice, found to be very-successful and efiicient and is being commercially made.

.It will of course be understood that various What is .claimed is:

.1. A door. sealing structure for adoor having and form a tight seal and to form an insulatping air chamberv therebetween.

52. .The' structure set forth in claim 1, said surface nearerthe said door as it swings to closed position being disposed at a lower elevation than .said .other surface.

3. A door sealing structure for a door having the .usual flat bottom surface comprising a-sill having. a, pair of surfaces spaced transversely thereof each inclining .upwardly in the direction in which said door swings as it reaches closed position, said surfaces beingdisposed at different elevations, a formed member of,flexible: re- -silient materialwsecured againstsaid flat bottom surface of said door for substantiallythe entire width of said door, said member .having downwardly extending fiexible projections spaced transversely .of saiddoor and of different lengths. constructed and arranged respectively to engage said surfaces, the shorter of said projections engaging the one of said surfaces at the higher elevation, said projectionsbeing flexed by.=,said engagement so as to exert pressure onsaid surfaces whereby a tight seal is formed. and an insulating. air chamber is formed betweenysaid portions.

-WINSTON A. CLOSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of" record in-"the file of this patent:

UNITED'STATES PATENTS Number Name ;-Date 214,715 -Scully "Apr; 22, :1879 ;1,08-1,692 -,-Newpher Dec.;16,::19.13 1,215,407 Polson -.Feb. '13,..191'7 1,646,743 Bernard ..-Oct. 25,:1927

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country --.Date

.-..2.0,643 Germany -i1883 ....40.3,5.69 Great Britain .Dec. 28,1933 

